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Where do guinea pigs come from? -

Guinea pigs are originally native to the Andes Mountains in South America, mainly Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador. Humans first began domesticating these little critters around 5000 BCE.

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Pigs or rodents? -

Not only do guinea pigs not come from Guinea or New Guinea, they obviously aren't really pigs. Guinea pigs are actually rodents, and belong to the caviidae family, making them close relatives to the capybara.

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Wild guinea pigs -

Guinea pigs were originally wild animals, roaming the Andes Mountains and the surrounding forests. Today, the animals we know as guinea pigs don't exist in the wild, but similar-looking relatives can still be found across South America.

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Common breeds of guinea pigs -

There are three main breeds of domesticated guinea pigs. The American guinea pig is the breed most familiar to the world, while Peruvian guinea pigs, like the one pictured, are known for their luscious locks of hair.

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Abyssinian guinea pig -

The third principle breed of guinea pig is the Abyssinian guinea pig. They are known not only for their crazy hairstyle, but also for being more energetic, and at times more aggressive, than their more popular and laid-back siblings.

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The guinea pig vs. rabbit rivalry -

Guinea pigs are famously amicable creatures, and friends to anyone who is willing to be theirs. The one glaring exception is the rabbit. Rabbits and guinea pigs have been presented as a match made in heaven by popular culture, but in truth the two fuzzy creatures don't get along very well at all. Rabbits are known to bully the smaller guinea pigs, and guinea pigs are known to sometimes fight back.

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Talkative and sociable -

Around their own kind, however, guinea pigs get along splendidly. They are happiest in groups, and are known for their dynamic language of chirps, squeaks, and squeals.

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Marking their possessions -

Like many animals, guinea pigs mark their possessions and territories. Luckily for their human caretakers, they simply rub their fuzzy noses and chins on what's theirs rather than using bodily fluids!

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Uneven feet -

Guinea pigs have very unique feet. Rather than having sets of matching digits, guinea pigs have four toes on their front feet and only three on their back feet.

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Jumping for joy -

Guinea pigs are famous for their excited jumps and hops. This act of "popcorning," as it's affectionately called, shoots them into the air as they twist and turn in all directions. Guinea pigs popcorn when they are feeling particularly happy and playful.

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Piggy trains and the zoomies -

The adorable mannerisms of guinea pigs don't stop there. When moving around in groups, these furry rodents often form what are called "piggy trains," which consist of guinea pigs moving from place to place in a straight, uniform line. They are also prone to bouts of the zoomies (i.e. energy bursts), just like cats and dogs.

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Crepuscular piggies -

One of the many reasons guinea pigs make such excellent pets is their adaptable sleep cycle. Guinea pigs are crepuscular, which means they're most active at dawn and at dusk. That being said, they only sleep for short stints throughout the day, and remain active and sociable for around 20 hours a day.

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Guinea lifespans -

Guinea pigs, compared to other rodents, lead exceptionally long lives. The average lifespan of a guinea pig is seven years, but they are known to live as long as 14 years.

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Fast childhoods -

Guinea pigs also hit the ground running, almost literally. Baby guinea pigs, or pups, are born fully developed with a full coat of fur and open eyes. In only a matter of hours after birth, guinea pups are ready to start racing and jumping around.

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Low-maintenance aging -

Even in their golden years, guinea pigs live with grace and ease. There are very few medical conditions that can befall aging guinea pigs, and most can be prevented with proper care.

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Pups, boars, and sows -

Despite being rodents, the nomenclature used for guinea pigs stays on track with their swine-adjacent name, with the exception of baby guinea pigs being called pups. Male guinea pigs are called boars, and females are called sows.

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Gentle friends -

The list of reasons why guinea pigs make great pets is a long list indeed. One of the many reasons is their almost invariable docile nature. Guinea pigs are rarely known to act aggressively towards humans, and almost never bite.

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Easy to entertain -

Guinea pigs are also rather easy to please when it comes to playtime. Their short and stout stature means they don't need nearly as much space or time for exercise, and find joy in the simplest things. Basic balls, cardboard boxes, and any number of DIY toys are more than enough to keep guinea pigs entertained for hours.

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Interior decorators -

Most guinea pigs kept as pets will have some sort of cage or enclosure to call home when they're not out on the lawn or scurrying around the house. A good human caretaker will decorate their pet's habitat with an array of little shelters and toys, and the guinea pigs themselves usually make a habit out of pushing around their furnishings from place to place, always in search of the perfect feng shui.

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Perceptive piggies -

Don't let a guinea pig's adorable and docile nature fool you; they are wonderfully intelligent animals. Guinea pigs have enough memory and understanding to learn their own names and the names of their human friends.

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Fast learners -

Guinea pigs also have the mental capacity to learn numerous tricks. Classics like shaking, playing fetch, and even playing dead are easy as cake for these fuzzy friends to pick up.

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The guinea diet -

Guinea pigs are vegans, through and through. They love to feast on vegetation of all sorts, from carrots to lettuce. Most importantly, guinea pigs rely heavily on a healthy diet of hays and grasses.

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The importance of foraging -

Having enough greens to munch on isn't only a matter of diet. One of the guinea pig's few flaws is that its teeth never stop growing. If a guinea pig's teeth are left idle, they'll grow too long for comfort. Gnawing the day away helps ensure that their teeth stay a respectable length.

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The bliss of the outdoors -

Guinea pigs, like most animals, love being outdoors. Even if they spend most of their days inside a house or an apartment, a guinea pig's quality of life soars when they're able to smell, feel, and sometimes eat, the outside world.

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Emotional support guineas -

Guinea pigs can be very therapeutic pets for people with anxiety or other emotional ailments. As intuitive and loving creatures, guinea pigs can give a feeling of calm closeness to those who need it.

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The perfect starter pet? -

Smaller than cats and dogs, with fewer and less exhaustive needs, guinea pigs can indeed make excellent starter pets. That by no means should indicate, however, that they are autonomous and don't need care, attention, and love.

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Proper guinea care -

Guinea pigs are emotional creatures, and can become extremely anxious or depressed if they're not given the care they deserve. A guinea pig's diet must be closely attended to, and as social animals they must always receive the proper amount of playtime and affection.

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Pigs and kids -

Guinea pigs have long been advertised as the perfect pet for children, but that statement can prove dangerously untrue. While guinea pigs are in fact laid-back and sociable, they can suffer severely if handled roughly. Children must be made sure to play lightly with guinea pigs, and not to pick them up or touch them without care. While a guinea pig will rarely act out in violence to mistreatment, it will suffer great emotional pain.

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Is a guinea pig right for you? -

Guinea pigs can be the perfect pet for responsible individuals with the time and emotional capacity to care deeply for a fuzzy and friendly little rodent. Very little space is required to keep a guinea pig happy and healthy, as long as there is always love and care to spare.

See also: The best gifts for pets

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